Enjoying a home-grown, epicurean ‘slow food’ meal amongst a stunning Margaret River backdrop sounds like a heavenly experience if you ask us.
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is to enjoy life at a slower pace, appreciate the small things and to truly be present where ever you are. One tasteful way you can do this is by turning your next Margaret River holiday into an indulgent marathon, participating in a Slow Food experience.
What is slow food?
Trust the Italians to create another cultural awakening food movement! The ‘Slow Food’ movement was first coined by Carlo Petrini in Italy in 1986 to promote good quality food sourced by local makers and farmers and produced in harmony with the local environment and community. The movement encourages people to appreciate nature’s pantry: the regional origins and ethical efforts of the food presented on their plate, particularly with meat. Slow Food is not one for the hover-type eaters but for those who likes to be pleasured by the forkful at a leisurely pace.
Here we list where you can enjoy life’s simple pleasures in the most decadent way with participating in a Slow Food experience. No rush.
Voyager Estate
Welcome to the crème de la crème of slow food experiences in the region.
Margaret River’s multi-award winning vineyard, Voyager Estate produces of the region’s most innovative Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon drops amongst fit-for-a-royal manicured gardens.
To bask in the best of the vineyard’s cellar, partake in a special four-course set menu – a special version of its Discovery Menu – for a culinary experience showcasing the best in wine and food.
The gastronomical tour via palate includes a set four-course menu, designed by Head Chef Santi Fernandez and an exclusive discount on any additional wine purchased on the day to take home. Guests can opt to include wine-pairings with each course. Diners can purchase wine at member prices on the day, without joining the Voyager Estate wine club, offering discount up to 20%.
*Bookings open May 15, valid for dining from May 22 to June 19, 2020.
Location:Voyager Estate, Stevens Road, Margaret River, WA 6285
Domaine Naturaliste
Is there anything more wholesome than enjoying life’s simple pleasures, ahem wine with a charcuterie and cheese board amongst blissful green-lit scenery?
Domaine Naturaliste is the purveyors of such, offering charcuterie and cheese boards all day, served with one of their award-winning balanced wines of your choice, or with a flight of six luxury wines from their direction and flagship ranges. The combinations of wine, cheese and charcuterie are endless and boy, the indecision has never been greater and all for a good reason!
Enjoy these small epicurean miniatures all while taking in the new cellar surrounds overlooking Wilyabrup Vineyard. Bookings are strongly recommended.
Location: Domain Naturaliste, 160 Johnson Rd, Wilyabrup WA 6280
Southern Forests Honey ‘The Colony Concept’
A bee-utiful concept!
The South West’s great larger-than-life beehive-esque venue, Southern Forests Honey in Metricup hosts an immersive experience for honey and bee education.
Its Colony Concept restaurant is currently hosting two seatings daily from 11.30am – 2pm for two-hour sittings, 20 patrons at a time. Adults can indulge in a set three-course menu for $45, includes a glass of wine. The little ones can also appreciate a slow food experience with a set three-course menu, including a drink for $20.
Although tastings are currently unavailable, you can still appreciate a good drop of the region by selecting a local wine and beers to pair with your meal. These include Larrikins of Margaret River, Churchview Estate Colonial Brewing Co, and Margaret River Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co.
Location: Southern Forests Honey, 62 Harman’s Mill Road, Metricup WA 6280
Wills Domain Winery & Restaurant
It is a nourishing affair for both mind, body and soul at Wills Domain Winery & Restaurant for its storybook rolling green hills, sweeping coastal views and of course, good food and wine. Let’s put emphasis on the latter claim as Dunsborough’s sought out vineyard for thirsty tourists has been a multi-recipient of the WA Good Food Guide Restaurant of the Year so you can expect to be served nothing but delicious fine dining creations.
Under the helm of Head Chef Seth James, the restaurant has a focus on sustainable, wild-harvested produce with gardens onsite growing much of the food plated. Bookings are essential with lunch seatings from 12pm to 2.30pm Thursday to Monday.
Location: Wills Domain, 17 Brash Rd, Yallingup WA 6282
Bettenay’s Margaret River
Give their taste buds a real treat, they say. Well, at Bettenay’s Margaret River, it’s hard to argue that they don’t with making life that extra bit sweeter with their decadent nougat varieties.
The South West’s sweet treat haven is open daily for nougat tastings, from 9:30am to 5pm with all pieces pre-cut and handed to visitors. Bettenay’s are also doing its tasty pairings a tad differently, with its nougat and wine tastings in 5 x 100 ml bottles available for purchase as take-home packs from $30 – $40. If after tasting you would like to return to purchase, you can receive $10 off your next wine purchase, in-store or online.
Location: Bettenay’s Margaret River, 248 Tom Cullity Dr, Cowaramup WA 6284
Arimia Estate
Go off the grid and head to Arimia Estate, a self-described ‘celebration of place.’
The folks at Arimia Estate are exceptional ambassadors of the slow food movement, with their organic farming practices and use of raw materials onsite used to create delectable modern Australian cuisine. Being its own sustainable supermarket, the estate produces pork, olives, olive oil, eggs, trout, marron, honey and garden-fresh fruits and vegetables. It is also worthy to note Arimia’s kitchen is 100% off the grid, thus committed to reducing waste.
To taste Arimia’s homegrown delights in fully immersive sustainable surrounds, take part in a four-course set menu (plus standard extras) at $80 with wine and pairings available. Restaurant bookings are essential and with limited seatings at 12pm and 2pm, Thursday to Monday. Cellar Door is open for take away wine sales only from 10am – 5pm.
Location: Arimia Estate, 242 Quininup Rd, Wilyabrup WA 6280
Want to bring the Margaret River slow food movement into your home? Head to the Margaret River Farmers Market, open every Saturday from 8am.
Location: Margaret River Farmers Market, Lot 272 Bussell Hwy, Margaret River WA 6285
Featured image: Wills Domain Winery & Restaurant
See more: Australia’s South West travel
Article first published on So Perth: Why Margaret River Slow Food Experiences Are An Indulgent Marathon
